Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2010

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which he claims are related to acoustic trauma sustained during military service. The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the existence of these conditions and their relationship to his service.

The Board has denied the appellant's claim for reimbursement of additional transportation costs related to the burial of her deceased husband, as he was not buried in a national cemetery or state-owned cemetery used solely for persons eligible for burial in a national cemetery.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are likely due to noise exposure during his military service, including combat in Vietnam. As such, the claims for service connection are granted.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury, to include headaches and tinnitus. The Veteran's current conditions are attributed to his personality disorder rather than any residual effects from an in-service head injury.

The Veteran's cause of death is related to his service-connected tuberculosis, which caused or contributed to his arteriosclerotic heart disease. The RO has requested additional medical records from the nursing home and Clinton County Hospital.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus and a respiratory disability were denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that they are related to service.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus, finding an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence as to whether the Veteran's condition is related to military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are likely related to his National Guard service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, peripheral vestibular disorder (balance), and a left ear drum disorder, all claimed as secondary to his service-connected residuals of a fractured mandible. The evidence does not support finding that these conditions are related to active duty service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, specifically his exposure to noise during combat in World War II.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are so severe that they prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to consider his claims for an increased evaluation for PTSD and TDIU.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted it. The Veteran's tinnitus was also found to be incurred during active service.

The Board has remanded the case for a supplemental opinion to address findings in the service treatment records related to left ear pain and subsequent fever and swelling of the left parotid gland, as well as the Veteran's reports of having hearing loss at the time of a 1959 hearing test.

The Board finds in favor of the Veteran on all three issues: bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a back disability. The evidence supports a finding that these conditions were incurred during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's incarceration, and a VA medical professional will be required to review his claims file and provide an opinion regarding whether his current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the current evaluations of 0 percent and 10 percent, respectively, are appropriate given the audiometric results.